Senate Bill 2673

AN ACT TO CREATE THE "MISSISSIPPI FRONTLINE NURSES AND HEALTH CARE WORKERS RETENTION ACT"; TO PROVIDE THE LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND DETERMINATIONS REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE AND URGENCY OF THE ACT; TO ESTABLISH THE "MISSISSIPPI FRONTLINE NURSES AND HEALTH CARE WORKERS RETENTION GRANT PROGRAM" IN THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND PRESCRIBE ITS COMPONENTS; TO PROVIDE THAT A PORTION OF THE FUNDS SHALL BE EXPENDED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR PROVIDING FUNDS TO MISSISSIPPI LICENSED HOSPITALS TO PROVIDE PREMIUM PAY TO THEIR MISSISSIPPI FRONTLINE NURSES AND LICENSED/CERTIFIED HEALTH CARE WORKERS PROVIDING BEDSIDE CARE WHO ARE PRIMARILY DEVOTED TO MITIGATING OR RESPONDING TO THE CURRENT COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY; TO PROVIDE THAT A PORTION OF THE FUNDS SHALL BE EXPENDED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR PROVIDING FUNDS TO MISSISSIPPI LICENSED LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES TO PROVIDE PREMIUM PAY TO THEIR MISSISSIPPI FRONTLINE NURSES AND LICENSED/CERTIFIED HEALTH CARE WORKERS PROVIDING BEDSIDE CARE WHO ARE PRIMARILY DEVOTED TO MITIGATING OR RESPONDING TO THE CURRENT COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY; TO PROVIDE THAT A PORTION OF THE FUNDS SHALL BE EXPENDED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR PROVIDING FUNDS TO MISSISSIPPI LICENSED AMBULANCE SERVICES TO PROVIDE PREMIUM PAY TO THEIR MISSISSIPPI FRONTLINE NURSES AND LICENSED/CERTIFIED HEALTH CARE WORKERS PROVIDING BEDSIDE CARE WHO ARE PRIMARILY DEVOTED TO MITIGATING OR RESPONDING TO THE CURRENT COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY; TO PROVIDE THAT A PORTION OF THE FUNDS SHALL BE EXPENDED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR PROVIDING FUNDS TO ELIGIBLE ENTITIES UNDER THIS ACT TO PROVIDE PREMIUM PAY TO THEIR MISSISSIPPI FRONTLINE NURSES AND LICENSED/CERTIFIED HEALTH CARE WORKERS WHO ARE PRIMARILY DEVOTED TO MITIGATING OR RESPONDING TO THE CURRENT COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY TO BE DISTRIBUTED IN THE MANNER THAT THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES IS THE MOST EQUITABLE AND EFFICIENT TO SUPPLEMENT THE FUNDS OTHERWISE PROVIDED AND TO EFFECTUATE THE PURPOSES OF THIS ACT; TO PROVIDE THAT MISSISSIPPI FRONTLINE NURSES AND LICENSED/CERTIFIED HEALTH CARE WORKERS THAT QUALIFY FOR PREMIUM PAY UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL RECEIVE PREMIUM PAY NOT TO EXCEED A CERTAIN AMOUNT WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT IN RECOGNITION OF THE RECIPIENT'S CURRENT AND FUTURE WORK PRIMARILY DEVOTED TO MITIGATING OR RESPONDING TO THE CURRENT COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY AND SUBJECT TO THE RECIPIENT'S WRITTEN AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO CONTINUE EMPLOYMENT WITH THE RECIPIENT'S PRIMARY CURRENT EMPLOYER FOR FIVE MONTHS FOLLOWING THE RECEIPT OF SUCH PREMIUM PAY; TO FURTHER PROVIDE THAT THE WRITTEN AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEVELOPED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND INCLUDE A PROVISION THAT THE MISSISSIPPI FRONTLINE NURSE OR LICENSED/CERTIFIED HEALTH CARE WORKER MAY BE REQUIRED TO REPAY TO THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI THE AMOUNT OF THEIR PREMIUM PAY FUNDS IF THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT ARE NOT MET; TO PROVIDE CERTAIN REPORTING AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS UNDER THIS ACT; TO PROVIDE THAT NONE OF THE FUNDS PROVIDED UNDER THIS SECTION MAY BE USED TO PROVIDE PREMIUM PAY TO ANY FRONTLINE NURSES OR LICENSED/CERTIFIED HEALTH CARE WORKERS WHO ARE WORKING UNDER A CONTRACT WITH A STAFFING AGENCY TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI FOR A LIMITED DURATION OF LESS THAN ONE YEAR, SUCH AS TRAVEL NURSES, AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the Senate

• Hob Bryan

  Sponsor

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

In the Senate Jan 17 – Feb 10

1. Jan 17Referred to the Senate committee on Appropriations
2. Feb 1Reported from committee in the Senate: title sufficient, do pass as a committee substitute
3. Feb 10Recommitted to committee in the Senate
4. Died in committee in the Senate